QuickHITs

Hosted by Health Data Movers

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Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

Brought to you by Health Data Movers, the QuickHITs podcast wants to bring you inside the world of healthcare technology. We'll cover industry trends, news, conferences as well as interviews with leaders in the industry.

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44 recent

July 22, 202638 min

Building an AI-Ready Health System with Simon Nazarian

In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith sits down with Simon Nazarian , System EVP and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at City of Hope , and guest co-host Maroussia Petryk . Simon shares how one of the nation's largest cancer research and treatment organizations is turning decades of complex oncology data into a strategic asset, and how that foundation led to the development of Hope LLM, City of Hope's proprietary generative AI platform. He explains why data migration should be treated as clinical and operational infrastructure rather than an IT checkbox, what AI readiness really requires beyond having a model, and how governance built into the architecture from day one is what earns clinician trust. The conversation also covers ROI versus return on opportunity, where organizations tend to overestimate or underestimate AI's impact, and Simon's outlook on the next three to five years of clinical innovation, including a blended intelligence model where technology surfaces insight, and humans keep the final say. From treating data migration as strategic infrastructure to reducing administrative burden through Hope LLM to building AI governance in from the start, this episode covers a lot of ground for anyone thinking about what it takes to modernize a complex health system responsibly.

June 24, 202642 min

Closing the operational gap: how Mount Sinai builds digital health that scales with Dr. Nicholas Gavin & Dr. Robbie Freeman

In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith sits down with Dr. Nicholas Gavin , Chief Clinical Innovation Officer at Mount Sinai, and Dr. Robbie Freeman , Mount Sinai's Chief Digital Transformation Officer. Nicholas and Robbie unpack what it actually takes to move a digital health tool from a small pilot to system-wide scale, including the operational gap, the Hawthorne effect, and why Mount Sinai builds for scale from day one rather than treating pilots as an endpoint. They share how a culture of bottom-up idea submission, paired with rigorous co-design with patients and clinicians, has led to products like an AI tool that predicts pressure injury risk and a digital triage platform shaped directly by patient focus groups. The conversation also covers interoperability, standardizing on a single EMR across seven hospital campuses and 400-plus ambulatory locations, and where Nicholas and Robbie see the next wave of healthcare technology heading, including agentic AI and computer vision. They close with a candid take on healthcare's long struggle with administrative burden, and why current tools may finally offer a real path forward for clinicians and patients alike.

June 4, 202627 min

From the Bedside to the Boardroom: How Nitin Agarwal Is Leading Healthcare IT

In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith sits down with Nitin Agarwal , CIO of Wayne Memorial Health , a rural health system in northeastern Pennsylvania serving patients who, in many cases, have nowhere else to go. Nitin shares how he climbed to the C-suite by learning to delegate, why he believes the best technology decisions start with conversation rather than a vendor deck, and what it really means to be a trusted partner to clinical and operational teams. He also digs into data migration, the importance of intentional data mapping before a single record moves, and why rural health systems have to be far more deliberate than their larger counterparts when adopting new technology. And on AI? Nitin isn't waiting for the hype to clear. He's watching for the moment AI truly frees clinicians to just be clinicians.

May 21, 202638 min

From Policy to Practice with Dr. Bill Winkenwerder: A Career at the Intersection of Healthcare, Data, and Leadership

In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith, CEO of Health Data Movers, sits down with Dr. Bill Winkenwerder , Chairman of CitiusTech , for a wide-ranging conversation spanning four decades at the highest levels of healthcare leadership. Dr. Winkenwerder's career began with a simple but powerful realization: that the physician-patient relationship, while meaningful, wasn't enough to fix a broken system. That conviction drove him well beyond the clinic. He went on to serve as Medical Director at Kaiser Permanente, Vice President at Emory Healthcare, CEO of Highmark Health — the 7th largest health insurer in the U.S., serving more than 34 million Americans — and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, overseeing healthcare across the entire U.S. military. Today, he brings that depth of experience to his role as Chairman of CitiusTech. Together, Tyler and Bill explore the forces reshaping healthcare today — consolidation, aging infrastructure, and the accelerating pace of technological change. Bill makes the case that clean, reliable data isn't just an IT priority; it's the prerequisite for everything else, including AI. And he offers a grounded, experience-backed take on where agentic AI will actually deliver in the next three to five years, and where human judgment remains irreplaceable. The conversation also turns to the bigger picture: what it means to build a healthcare system that helps everyday people live healthier, more informed lives, rather than just treating them when they're sick. This episode is for healthcare leaders who want perspective from someone who has operated at every level of the system and still believes the most important work is ahead. Topics covered: How Bill's career evolved from medicine to policy to healthcare leadership The compounding challenges of legacy systems, consolidation, and constant change Why data quality is the true foundation for AI in healthcare Where CitiusTech and HDM fit in the next phase of healthcare IT The real-world potential of agentic AI and its limits Empowering patients through better data, education, and technology

April 22, 202640 min

From Sick Care to Healthcare — Unlocking the Power of Multiomics with Andrew Thompson

On this episode of QuickHITs , Tyler Smith sits down with Andrew Thompson, management board member at the Estonian Multiomics Company (EMC), to explore how healthcare can evolve from a system focused on treating illness to one designed to prevent it. Andrew shares his journey building technology-enabled life sciences companies and how his work in Estonia led to the creation of EMC—an organization focused on unlocking the value of multiomics data to drive better clinical, economic, and societal outcomes. Drawing on his experience across both technology and healthcare, Andrew brings a global perspective on what it takes to rethink healthcare at scale. Andrew breaks down the concept of multiomics and why genomics alone only tells part of the story. He explains how integrating genetic, clinical, and behavioral data creates a more complete picture of health, shifting the focus from static insights to dynamic understanding of how individuals actually live and express disease risk. The conversation also explores Estonia's digital-first infrastructure, where citizens own their data and health systems are built on trust, transparency, and connectivity. Andrew outlines how this foundation enables a fundamentally different approach to healthcare, one that prioritizes prevention, empowers individuals, and leverages data in ways that traditional systems cannot. Finally, Andrew challenges healthcare leaders to think beyond optimizing today's "sick care" model and instead consider how to build systems that keep people healthy at home. He shares practical insights on the role of consumer engagement, data ownership, and emerging technologies like AI in shaping the future of healthcare, and what organizations can do today to begin that shift.

April 1, 202647 min

Josh Wilda on Digital Transformation, AI, and the Future of Healthcare IT

On this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith sits down with Josh Wilda , Associate Vice President for Information Systems and Chief Information Digital Officer at University of Iowa Health Care , to explore how healthcare organizations are evolving from technology operators to strategic enablers of care. Josh shares his unique journey into healthcare IT, from his early days at Epic to leading digital transformation initiatives across major academic health systems. With over 25 years of experience, he brings a perspective grounded in both technical expertise and a deep understanding of healthcare's broader ecosystem. Josh discusses the shifting role of IT leadership—from managing infrastructure to driving enterprise-wide strategy—and how today's leaders must act as connectors across clinical, operational, and technological domains. Josh outlines how organizations can build trust, embed IT into the business, and move from transactional support to true partnership. We also explore the growing impact of AI, data, and digital health, and why success starts with a strong foundation of clean, accessible data. Josh shares how his team is balancing innovation with operational stability, prioritizing initiatives that reduce friction and allow clinicians and staff to operate at the top of their license. Finally, Josh highlights the importance of aligning digital strategy with the core mission of healthcare—improving patient and provider experiences—while ensuring technology enhances, rather than distracts from, that connection.

March 4, 202641 min

Bryan Dechairo on Genomics, Rare Disease Diagnosis, and the Future of Precision Care

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:b0f35b17-a284-4974-b16a-e4d12aedf304-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In this episode of QuickHITs , Tyler Smith and Ken Booth are joined by Bryan Dechairo , COO of GeneDx , to explore how genomic testing is transforming the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. Bryan shares insights from his 30-year career in diagnostics—from the early days of PCR technology to the emergence of CRISPR and today's rapidly advancing genomic medicine. He explains how GeneDx is working to shorten the "diagnostic odyssey" many families face, where it can take five to six years for children with rare diseases to receive an accurate diagnosis. The conversation goes into how genomic data, large-scale testing, and advanced analytics are helping clinicians uncover answers faster. Bryan also discusses the importance of integrating genomic diagnostics into clinical workflows through EHR platforms like Epic, enabling providers to identify patients sooner and act on complex genetic information more effectively. Looking ahead, Bryan shares his vision for "genomes for life"—a future in which genomic information helps guide care from birth through adulthood, improving outcomes through earlier detection, personalized treatments, and proactive healthcare decisions. Tune in to hear how advances in genomics, data integration, and collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem are helping move the industry closer to faster diagnoses and better care for patients with rare diseases.

February 11, 202638 min

Pediatric Health Mergers & AI with John Henderson

In this episode of QuickHITs , Tyler Smith sits down with John Henderson , VP, CIO & Digital Officer at Rady Children's Health , for a timely conversation on leadership, integration, and mission-driven innovation in pediatric healthcare. John shares his journey into pediatric healthcare and how purpose-driven work has shaped his leadership philosophy. He offers an inside look at guiding a complex health system merger, bringing together platforms, teams, and cultures while maintaining a relentless focus on patient care. For John, technology is never the end goal — it is a means to simplify workflows, reduce friction for clinicians, and improve the experience for families navigating care. The conversation flows into what it truly takes to unify data across organizations, build strong governance models, and create a flexible architecture that can adapt to rapid shifts in AI and digital capabilities. John discusses the importance of simplification in digital ecosystems, the balance between accessibility and security, and why perfection cannot stand in the way of progress during large-scale transformation. Grounded in real-world experience, this episode explores how healthcare leaders can stay resilient, future-ready, and patient-focused while navigating mergers, modernization, and emerging technologies.

January 28, 202647 min

Building Becker's Healthcare, Health System M&A, and Turning Data Into Action with Scott Becker

In this episode of QuickHITs , hosts Tyler Smith and Ken Booth sit down with Scott Becker , founder of Becker's Healthcare and partner at McGuireWoods , for an in-depth conversation on entrepreneurship, healthcare transformation, and the future of the industry. Scott shares his journey from practicing law to building Becker's Healthcare into one of the most influential healthcare media platforms in the country — including the early pivots, grit, and team-driven growth that shaped its success. The discussion dives into today's accelerating wave of health system mergers and acquisitions, the role of scale in healthcare innovation, and the real challenges leaders face when integrating data and technology across complex organizations. The conversation also explores where AI is delivering immediate value , from ambient clinical tools to administrative workflows, and why simplicity and ease of use are key to turning data into meaningful action. Scott offers leadership insights on building thriving teams, doubling down on what works, and maintaining momentum in times of change. To close, Scott previews his upcoming book, Building Great Businesses: Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks, Scale with Confidence , sharing what inspired him to write it and what readers can expect. Whether you're a healthcare leader, entrepreneur, or innovator, this episode offers practical lessons and perspective on building organizations in a rapidly evolving industry.

January 14, 202631 min

Turning Healthcare Data Strategy into Execution with Mohammed Abdelaziz

In this episode of QuickHITs , we're excited to welcome Mohammed Abdelaziz , MD, MPH, FACP, Hospital Medicine Medical Director at Bon Secours Mercy Health King Mills Hospital . Dr. Abdelaziz brings deep experience navigating the real-world challenges of healthcare data, strategy, and execution. Throughout our conversation, Mohammed shares insight on how organizations can move beyond planning to operationalize data initiatives, common pitfalls leaders encounter, and the practical approaches that help turn complex data challenges into measurable outcomes. This episode is full of thoughtful perspectives for anyone working to modernize healthcare technology, improve interoperability, or build momentum around data-driven transformation. Listen now to hear how strategic focus and thoughtful execution can unlock value in healthcare data.